Fidel Castro Dead At 90

Fidel Castro has died at the age of 90. He was reportedly suffering from Diverticulitis, which is the swelling of the colon, at the time of his death. Fidel Castro turned leadership of Cuba over to his younger brother, Raul Castro, who became President in 2008.

Fidel Castro is the former leader of Cuba’s communist revolution and has ruled since 1959. On January 1st, 1959, Castro and his revolutionary forces overthrew the former dictator, Fulgencio Batista. Shortly after gaining reign of Cuba, he visited the United States on invitation from The American Society of Newspaper Editors, though the American government was wary. Castro spewed much anti-American rhetoric and was friendly with numerous leftists (including Che Guevara), but the media was enamored with him.

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While in the United States, former President Dwight D. Eisenhower (current President at the time), declined to meet with Fidel Castro. During his talk at the Council on Foreign Affairs (consisting of a mix of former government officials and private citizens interested in U.S. international relations), he expressed he would not grovel to receive economic assistance from the United States. A few years later, he would be close to nuclear war with the U.S. during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.

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U.S and Cuba relations have just recently started to improve, with the embargo becoming more relaxed. President Obama and his family made an official visit to Cuba this past Spring. While he reportedly never met Fidel Castro, he did meet Raul Castro.

Reportedly, Cuban people have taken to the streets in Miami, celebrating the former dictators’ passing.